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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. row — to paddle
  3. rush — hurry
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. fine — all right
  6. fine — high quality
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. rash — hasty
  9. stock — goods
  10. cue — a signal
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. mug — to rob
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. mug — a face
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. cue — for pool
  20. stock — shares
  21. row — a line
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. mug — a cup
  24. cue — a hint

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com